Key-retaining device



Nov. 6, 1923,

| B. TEBBETTSl KEY RETAINING DEVICE Filed Jan. 26. 1922 Patented Nov. 5, i923.

unirse stares' time entrant Yesricr-i LEWIS B. TEBBETTS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, 'ASSIGNOR Y' LO I.. B. TEBBETTS & COM- PANY, INCORPORATED, 0F SIf. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A YCORPQRA'JTION OF MISSOURI.

KEY-:anTArNrNG vnist/'ren l Application filed January Y26, 11922K. Serial No. 532,057.

To cZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwrs BTEBBETTS, a citizen of the United States of America, a resident ofthe city ofrSt. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key-Retaining Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates generally to im* provements in key-retaining devices, and particularly to a key-retaining device which may be used in connection with a key, or a plurality of keys, whereby said key or keys may be fastened to a convenient part of a garment of the owner thereof, thus permitting ready access to said keys when it is desired to use same.

It is well known that much inconvenience and annoyance is caused by necessity of searching the pockets for a key when it is desired to use same, this being particularly true of a key which is used with much frequency, such as the key to the ignition switch of an automobile.

To eliminate the above mentioned inconvenience, my invention provides a means comprising a spring clip which is secured to the key, said spring clip being adapted tobe applied to and frictionally grip a part of a garment, such as the upper edge of a pocket or the edge of a cuff, whereby the key is securely held in a convenient place and is accessible at all times for immediate use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises the novel construction, .combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations vand modifications which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Fig. I is a front elevation of the preferred form of my invention showing a pair of keys provided with my improved keyretaining device.

Fig. II is an edge elevation of the keys and retaining device shown in Fig. I, a por# tion of each of said keys being shown in section to illustrate the lmanner of securing said retaining device thereto.

Fig-IH is a front elevation of a modification of myinvention.l

Fig. lV is an edge elevation of the keys i and retaining device shown in FigfIH, a portion of each of said keys Vbfeingshown in section. j

Fig. V is a perspective view showing a second modification of my invention.

n In the drawing, A andB designate lockoperating keys of a type now in genera-l use, each .of said keys having ashank portion shaped to operate the tumblers cfa lock, and a second `portion shaped to permit the user of said key to firmly grip same. Keys of the type described are usuallyprovided with one orvvmore apertures formed through the second mentioned portion, and these apertures, which are designated by the ref- Y' erence character C in the drawing, are utilized in a manner to be hereinafterset forth to permit the .key-retaining device herein described torbe securely fastened to one or more of said keys. p A

Inserted through a pair of registering apertures C in the keys A and `B (Fig. II) is a comparativelyshort rod l, which is screw-threaded at one of its ends for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth,.said rod being circular in 'cross section and vpreferably of'such diameter as to snugly fit within said apertures.

Secured to the rod l at its end opposite to its threaded end isa gripping member 2, comprising a key-contacting portion 3 and a spring tongue portion 4t. It will be observed by referring to Figli of the drawing that the gripping member .2 is shaped to form a loop, said gripping member extending upwardly from its fastened end and then being bent outwardly and downwardly, the free end of the spring tongue portion of'said member frictionally engaging the key A.

'As a means for preventing the rod 1 from moving longitudinally within the apertures C, I-employ a nut k5 screwed onto the threaded end of said rod, said nut 5 being adapted to bear tightly against the key B.

. By the arrangement just-described it is apparent that the keys and the retaining device are securely fixedtogether, said keys being interposed between the key-contacting portion 3 of the gripping member 2 and the nut 5, thus preventing relative movement between-'said keys and said retaining device in a direction longitudinal of said rod l, and because said keys are mounted on the circular rod 1,either of said keys may be swung` to a position at an angle to the other key.

in the use of my improved key-retaining device, the key is secured to a garment of the owner thereof by a portion of said garment being gripped between the spring tongue 4 and said key, said portion of the garment, which may be theed-ge of a pocket or the edge of a cuff or any other convenient part, extending into the loop of said gripping member, the lower end portion of the key-contacting portion 3 being beveled to avoid any abutment which may obstruct the free passage of said vgarment portion into said loop.

lVhen it is desired to use one of a number of keys on a retaining device, it is necessary, after withdrawing said retaining device from the garment, to either turn the selected key to' a position where it is approximately at a right angle to the other keys on said retainers, or turn the other keysto a right angle to the selected key, when said keys will assume the positions shown by dotted lines in'Fig. I, in which position the selected key may Ybe inserted into a lock without interference from the other keys. 'f but. a single key is carried on the retaining device itis, of course, unnecessary to turnA said key in the manner just described, as the free end of the spring tongue portion of the gripping member 2 bears against the nger-gripping portion of the key and consequently will not interfere with the inser tion of the lock tumbler operating portion of the key into a lock.

ln Figs. Il and IV of the drawing, a modification of my invention is shown wherein the key-contacting portion 3 is eX- tended downwardly to a point below the free end of the spring tongue portion t', whereby the garment portion, instead of being gripped between the spring tongue por tion and the key, as in the preferred construction of the invention, will be gripped between the spring tongue portion 1i and the key-contacting portion 3.

in the use of this form of retaining device, it is necessary to turn the selected key to a position which is approximately at a right angle to the gripping member because of the fact that the spring tongue portion l and the key-contacting portion 3 extend downwardly to a 'point adjacent to the lock tumbler operating portion of the key, and would not permit said lock tumbler portion to be inserted into a lock.

Fig. V illustrates a second modication of my invention wherein a spring tongue T is secured directly to the key, in any suitable manner.

l claim:

l. retaining device for a key having a gripping portion provided with an opening and a lock operating portion, comprising a frictional gripping member provided with a portion'adapted to extend into said opening in said gripping portion of said key, said kgripping member being located adjacenty to said gripping portion of said key whereby said lock operating portion isfree to be inserted into a lock.

2. retaining device for a key having a gripping portion provided with an opening and a lock operating portion, comprising an outwardly and downwardly curved resilient member provided with aportion adapted to extend into said opening in said gripping portion of said key, said gripping member being located adjacent to said gripping portion' of said key whereby said lock operating portion is free to be inserted into a lock.

A retaining device for a key ha "inga gripping portion provided with an opening and a lock operating'portion comprising a frictional gripping member provided with a portion adapted to extend into said opening in said gripping portion of said key, said frictional gripping member comprising an `outwardly bowed spring member which extends upwardly from said gripping portion ofsaid key where" 1 the lock operating portion thereof may be freely inserted into a lock.

4. A retaining device for keys each having an opening formed through a portion thereof, comprising a rod extending through said openings, a looped resilient gripping member secured permanently to said rod at one end thereof, and extended upwardly from said keys, said resilient gripping mem-Y ber comprising a key-engaging portion and 'a spring tongue portion, the end of said keyengaging portion and the end of said spring tongue portion terminating in close proximity to each other, and means comprising a nut at the other end of said rod whereby said rod is prevented from moving longitudinally of said opening.

Inv testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto atiix my signature. Y

LEVVS B. TEBBETTS.

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